Two walkers rescued after getting lost in dark on Yorkshire Three Peaks route

The two walkers had passed the derelict shooting hut on Ingleborough's flanks. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

Two walkers were rescued after getting lost when they strayed from the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge route.

The 59-year-old woman and her male companion, 58, called for help from the Sulber area on the descent from Ingleborough.

The Cave Rescue Organisation was alerted about 9.10pm on Sunday. The walkers were close to the area the rescue team has recognised as a callout blackspot and which it publicised on April Fools’ Day as the site for a new ‘bus stop’ for Three Peaks challengers.

A CRO spokesperson said the two walkers asked that someone call them back with instructions on their route to safety. “Repeated attempts to contact them on the number given were unsuccessful, so three small search parties were tasked from Crummackdale, Horton and Borrins to try and locate them,” the spokesperson said.

The Sulber 'bus stop'. Photo: CRO

“Unfortunately, the number given by the caller was for the wrong phone, but was eventually answered by a family member at home, who was able to provide a correct number. Once in contact with the caller, we were quickly able to locate them at Gill Garth Farm, some way off the route they had intended taking.

“Both walkers were taken back to their car at Horton, and the search teams stood down. This call would have been avoidable with proper preparation, given that the walkers had no compass, and only one small headtorch between them.”